Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

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Over 1/2 of American teens want to be a celebrity

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Matthew 23:11 ESV

The greatest among you shall be your servant.

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A servant is not what we do but who we are

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As Christians we are servants of Jesus

by serving others we serve Jesus

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What are you always doing?

Acts 9:36 NLT

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.

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What was she always doing?

gave clothing to those struggling

helped widows

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God must have thought that what she did was important because when she died God used Peter to raise her from the dead

revival broke out

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Not a great pastor or evangelist

didn’t have a great following

BUT

b/c she was always doing good

servant of Jesus

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How do we become a faithful servant?

it’s not about making clothes

it’s not about having a specific skill

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IT’S ABOUT SERVING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

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3 stories to help us see

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King David was a war hero

started after he killed Goliath

women stand in streets and sing songs about him

“here comes David, he is so strong and great”

like Megan does for me when I come home

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Why was he so great?

some say because he won a battle

I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE HE BROUGHT A LUNCH

all throughout his life was promoted because he had a servants heart

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Older brothers were off fighting the enemy as soldiers

David was out in the field taking care of sheep

one day his father asked him to do something that seemed small but was big in God’s eyes

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1 Samuel 17:17–18 ESV

And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”

seemingly insignificant

won’t be noticed by others

feel like behind the scenes

promotion in God’s Kingdom does not come by self promotion but by being a servant

by doing the small, unnoticed things that will serve and encourage those around you

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Luke 16:10 ESV

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

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Bring a lunch

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2.

553 years before it took place

Zechariah prophesied that the king would ride in on a donkey

not customary

President won’t come visit driving an old beat up Ford that we can hear turn off of Georgesville but will come in his fancy ride… that’s the expectation

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Jesus tells the disciples to go and get Him a donkey so that He can ride into Jerusalem on it

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Luke 19:31 ESV

If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ”

not everyone in that time would have had a donkey because they were expensive

we don’t know this persons name

we don’t have any other details about this guy

HE DIDN’T

set a price or specific arrangement

tell them which one that they could use

HE DID

let it be used for the Lord’s purpose

He was willing to offer what he had because he was a servant

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He provided a way for Jesus to come into town

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we can learn to give what we have for the purpose of Jesus

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Sometimes by helping others we can do greater things than we could do on our own

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bring a lunch

offer a ride

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3.

Jesus was meeting with the disciples for dinner just before the passover

Thursday night

Jesus knows that He is about to give His life for the sins of the world

wanting to talk with them

Disciples sit down and begin to argue

who is the greatest?

right before Jesus has a big talk with them

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John:

It will be me

I am the one that Jesus loves

he wrote about himself in 2nd person

& called himself the one that Jesus loves

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Peter:

no, John, it is me because do you remember when we were all out in the boat and Jesus called me out on the water

He chose me 1st

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Others: yeah but remember you only took 3 steps before you sank!

Peter: but He came and got me

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Bartholomule:

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Who is the greatest....

Jesus is sitting there knowing that He did not come to be served but to serve others

looks and sees proud hearts

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So Jesus

John 13:4–5 ESV

rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

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everyone is saying “no you can’t do this” and definitely not to me

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if you come to my house I would offer to take your coat & get you a drink

custom

In that time they would wash feet when you came in

but never the host

the servant would do it

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Jesus looks around and sees proud hearts & dirty feet

puts on a servant apron

grabs towel

washed their feet

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who is Jesus

perfect Son of God

King of kings

Lord of Lords

Alpha & Omega

Our rock

redeemer

YET

He humbled himself and washed the feet of others

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He didn’t come to be served but to serve others

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Sometimes we must humble ourselves and serve others doing what some may think is beneath us

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Bring a lunch

Offer a Ride

Wash their feet

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Jesus later teaches that one day He will separate the sheep from the GOATS

say to the goats

sorry we don’t know each other

Say to sheep

welcome to the Kingdom that I have prepared for you

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Matthew 25:35 ESV

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

Matthew 25:35–36 ESV

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

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they will look shocked

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Matthew 25:37–40 ESV

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:37-38

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How do you become great?

become less about you and more about Him

less self more others

SERVING JESUS BY SERVING OTHERS

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well done my good and faithful SERVANT

I can’t do anything “BIG”

In God’s Kingdom the little things are the big things

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Examples of servants at BCC

worship team is volunteer

kids ministry volunteers

BCG leaders

Fred- nursery, pulled weeds

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WHAT ARE YOU ALWAYS DOING?

He/She is always serving

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greatness is not about self promotion

great in the Kingdom of God are those who serve

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encourage a teenager

Jesus may say thanks for being there for me when I was 15

help the elderly

when I wasn’t able to shovel my driveway you did it for me and thought that I didn’t even know